Why do lions climb trees in Lake Manyara?
This is the most-searched question about Lake Manyara, and the honest answer is: scientists don't know definitively. The most accepted theories are that lions climb to escape biting insects concentrated on the ground (particularly tsetse flies and biting flies around the swamp areas), to escape the heat by accessing cooling breezes higher up, or simply because the acacia trees provide comfortable resting platforms.
Whatever the reason, the behaviour is well-documented and consistent. Guides know which tree species are most used (fig trees and large acacias) and which areas of the park produce the most sightings. In dry season, the woodland areas between the gate and the escarpment are the best places to search.
What is Lake Manyara National Park?
Lake Manyara lies at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment — the 600m cliff that marks the western edge of the Rift in this part of Tanzania. The park runs 50 km along the western shore of the lake, sandwiched between the escarpment and the water.
The result is a park with five ecosystems stacked side by side: groundwater forest (fed by springs from the escarpment), acacia woodland, floodplain, the alkaline lake itself, and the escarpment wall. Each supports different species — colobus monkeys and hornbills in the forest, lions and buffalo in the woodland, flamingos on the lake.
How to get to Lake Manyara National Park
By road from Arusha
The main gate at Mto wa Mbu village is 130 km from Arusha — approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. The small town of Mto wa Mbu ("River of Mosquitoes") has a lively market, budget accommodation, and is the base for escarpment rim lodges.
As part of a northern circuit safari
Lake Manyara is typically positioned after Tarangire and before Ngorongoro in a northern circuit itinerary. It is often combined as a half-day with Tarangire or a half-day en route to Ngorongoro.
Airstrip
A small airstrip near the park receives charter flights — useful if you're combining Manyara with a Serengeti or Ruaha camp without a long road drive.
Best time to visit Lake Manyara
June–October (dry season)
Best for lion sightings and general game viewing. Short grass improves visibility. Tree-climbing lion sightings peak during this period as lions use the woodland area more heavily.
November–May (wet season)
Best for flamingos and birds. The lake level rises, creating better conditions for algal growth (the food source for flamingos). November–April can see flamingo concentrations exceeding 75,000 birds. The groundwater forest is lush and the diversity of migratory Palearctic bird species peaks November–March.
The honest verdict: Both seasons have strong reasons to visit — the wildlife and the flamingos tend to peak in opposite seasons. For a first-time visitor, dry season (June–October) delivers more reliably on the lion and general wildlife experience.
What wildlife can you see in Lake Manyara?
Tree-climbing lions: The park's signature experience. Guides check specific trees first on morning drives. Sightings are not guaranteed but happen on the majority of dry-season visits.
Flamingos: The alkaline lake is a feeding and resting ground for lesser and greater flamingos. Numbers range from a few hundred to over 75,000 depending on water levels and algal conditions. The largest concentrations occur November–April.
Groundwater forest: One of the richest forest patches in northern Tanzania. Yellow baboon troops, black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, silvery-cheeked hornbill, and green-backed woodpecker. A completely different experience from the open savannah.
Hippo pool: The Simba River hippo pool near the main gate is a reliable early stop — 20–40 hippos typically present year-round.
Birds (450+ species): More bird species have been recorded here than in any other single-day safari area in Tanzania. The mix of forest, lake, and woodland habitats compresses extraordinary diversity into a small area.